S3 acquired "substantially all" of Number Nine's assets last year as that company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The status of the acquired operations is also in doubt, however, with S3 having sold its graphics chip business and saying it is seeking "alternative strategies" for its graphics business.

In April, S3 said it would sell its graphics chip unit to a joint venture company owned largely by Via Technologies.

The graphics business has experienced several casualties in recent months, including NeoMagic, ArtX and Gigapixel, all of which have been acquired or said they were shifting away from a graphics focus.